Kiteforum.com

Board only:
Big LF fish boards are heavy @ 12 lbs
Zeeko mini pocket is close to 5 lbs.
Others are in between.

+Alu foils seem to range in the 7-10 lb. some carbon are a bit lighter.

Question I have is:
If you're riding strapless or strapped but not boosting, does the weight really matter? Does heavier make for a smoother ride? Does lighter change heading easier?

Not looking for theoretical answers, but rather personal comparative anecdotal evidence. Thanks.

Greg at BRM has written about cutting down board length to reduce swing weight for turning. Is this a reductionist philosophy thing or actually noticeable?

Planning a heavier diy board and dont want to make it a truck to ride.

I'm a noob and ride a converted surfboard that weighs 3,5kg on a Moses Fluente. So I can't comment on the ride. But I've carried a Lf and fish board out through shallow water and in and up to the beach. Compared to mine, it was a major pain. On that alone, I'd avoid heavy equipment.
Right now I'm building a new dedicated foilboard and I think I'll be 800-1000g lighter. If I skimp on the deck pad I can save 100-200g more.

I have had a converted 6'1" surfboard, the same board cut down to 54" and a 42" skim.

All of them weighed roughly the same at about 9 lbs.

There is a really noticeable difference in riding them.

The shorter you go the less you feel the weight. (strapless/no jumps)

The dexterity between the skim and full length surfboard is quite different.

I'm wondering if a factor is also flotation. In other words, better make sure that board has more flotation than the foil has weight. I know of someone that lost an experimental setup that way. **oops**

Jyoder wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:04 pm

If you're riding strapless or strapped but not boosting, does the weight really matter? Does heavier make for a smoother ride? Does lighter change heading easier?

I would say yes..Heavier/longer definitely makes for a smoother (& easier) ride but less agile.
My experience is with a reasonably light carbon foil (Ketos - haven't got weight value to hand)
Usual board is ~3.6kg and 148cm.
Made a 120cm ~2.6kg board and it's much harder (for me) to ride. Pitch stability was the main issue - it just seemed so sensitive.
Eventually I got reasonably comfortable on it, wondered if i had been re-calibrated and would now struggle with the original board..Gave it a try and it was still so so much easier..


As others have pointed out, you also really notice the adverse effect og weight if you have a long carry to/from the water.

SENDIT! wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 27, 2017 5:16 pm

I'm wondering if a factor is also flotation. In other words, better make sure that board has more flotation than the foil has weight. I know of someone that lost an experimental setup that way. **oops**

It has to be. Some of those alloy foils are heavy. Luckily my bamboo/carbon foil floats.

I think weight, surface area, and buoyancy are mostly style dependent.

For long distance "touring" I'd want a board that had enough surface area and buoyancy that I could stand on it and not sink in zero wind. Heaven forbid you go out with your 11m kite, do 10 miles upwind, go ashore for a breather, then find out that the wind backed off and you're going to be double or triple looping your kite to get going...float and stability are key.

For playful freeride well powered in the surf, something short and light sounds appropriate.

Racing is all about light, stiff, and narrow so you can hike it over really far.

Consider what your average sessions look like and go from there

I made a board with exact same outline and Shape that is 1,5 kg lighter. The rails a bit different with chines, but same volume. 2,5 kg vs 4kg.
Carrying it I can feel the difference, and even a little on the water during waterstarts. But not in the air flying back N forth.